Officers accused of assaulting teen

Alan Douglas, left, and Gareth Needham. Photo / Doug Sherring

A trial has begun for two police officers accused of punching and challenging to a fight a teenager who was getting "a little bit lippy".

Gareth John Needham, 38, and Alan Michael Douglas, 32, pleaded not guilty to one charge each of assault when they appeared before a jury in Auckland District Court today.

The Crown allege that Needham and Douglas assaulted 18-year-old Joshua Hart when they were called to disperse a group of about 50 teenagers who were drinking at Mt Atkinson Park in west Auckland on February 2, prosecutor Hugh Leabourn said.

It was accepted that the complainant had been drinking and became "a little bit lippy" with the officers after Needham knocked a drink out of his hand.

Mr Hart told the court he called the officer a "faggot" - angry about losing his last drink - after which Needham punched him in the head.

He said he then tackled Needham and the two scuffled on the ground at which point he was restrained and arrested for disorderly behaviour.

While he was on the ground he was punched again, he said

On the way to the police van Mr Heart continued to insult officers, at which point Douglas "essentially lost control" and punched him in the face, possibly more than once, Mr Leabourn said.

Douglas then told other police officers to take Mr Hart's handcuffs off so that they could have a fight.

Douglas' defence would argue that he said this because "he knew it would never happen but he wanted to show Mr Heart that he was not afraid of him," Mr Leabourn said.

Needham would argue that he had hit the complainant with an open hand as a "diversionary tactic" to distract him so that he could put handcuffs on him, he said.

The trial is expected to take three days.

- NZPA